2011 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso

The 2011 Paleo Rosso is flat-out stunning. Mocha, espresso, black cherry and plums jump from the glass in a voluptuous, nuanced wine of the very highest level. The 2011 is firing on all cylinders today. Firm yet nicely integrated tannins struggle to contain a rush of exuberant fruit in this large-scaled, intense wine. Today, the oak is a bit present, but that has never been an issue before in terms of how these wines come together in bottle and age. With each passing vintage it becomes increasingly clear that Paleo Rosso is Le Macchiole's benchmark wine. A recent bottle of the 2010 was beautiful beyond words.

A darker, more brooding side of Paleo Rosso emerges in the 2011. Smoke, tar, licorice and incense add layers of depth and complexity to a core of distinctly dark-toned fruit. The flavors are broad and resonant in a virile Paleo that is going to need further time in bottle. There is a lot to look forward to here.

The 2011 Paleo Rosso gives you every reason to fall in love. What impresses the most is the floral imprint this 100% Cabernet Franc offers on the bouquet. It’s really quite remarkable: Pressed rose and dried lavender are almost perfume-like in intensity. In fact, I can’t remember a past edition of Paleo with a bouquet of this unique caliber. It boasts a huge sense of textural richness, with polished tannins and thick, dark extraction. The 2011 Paleo is particularly monumental in the mouth. Give it five to ten years to settle. Oct 2014, www.robertparker.com